Lesions located on the tongue after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A retrospective study.

Abstract

Background: The post-coronavirus disease (post-COVID) syndrome (PCS), which occurs after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infection, can manifest a variety of symptoms in the oral cavity. Changes to the tongue tend to persist longer than other symptoms in this area.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to present the changes and lesions that occur on the tongue after SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as their healing as a consequence of the therapy used or lack thereof.

Material and methods: The study sample included 426 individuals who had contracted SARS-CoV-2 and presented with changes on the tongue. Periodic checkups enabled to determine their variability and duration in response to treatment or lack thereof.

Results: The presence of various oral manifestations was reported, including strawberry tongue (women (F): 143; men (M): 65), depapillation (F: 86, M: 156), geographic tongue (F: 65, M: 124), vascular changes (F: 102, M: 46), aphthous changes (F: 106, M: 58), candidiasis (F: 89, M: 57), edema (F: 42, M: 52), herpetic lesions (F: 38, M: 49), ulcers (F: 38, M: 46), erosions (F: 32, M: 28), nodular lesions (F: 6, M: 19), and necrotic changes (F: 9, M: 7). Fungiform papillae were found to be enlarged in 189 women and 213 men. On average, from 3 to 5 changes were identified concurrently. In the majority of cases, the changes disappeared on their own and persisted from 4 weeks to 36 months. In 20% of cases, they recurred. Local therapy resulted in a 50% reduction in the duration of PCS.

Conclusions: Changes that manifest on the tongue require observation and basic or specialized treatment. In the absence of pain, monitoring is recommended for a period of 4 weeks, after which a spontaneous disappearance should be expected. In the event that various changes occur in the oral cavity, the patient should be referred for specialized treatment.